Do you belong to the category of overweight people and to those who are prone to overeating because of an endless feeling of hunger? If so, there is a high probability that you are hungry not for food itself but rather for the constituents of food. In other words, for the vitamins, minerals, oils, protein and other nutrients that are vitally important for our emotional and physical well-being.

If this is the case, it is not the best situation to be in. Your body will be starved of these essential nutrients, regardless of how much body fat you carry around. As a result you will find that you’re constantly exhausted and may even be so devoid of the energy your cells need to survive that you are likely to end up in the hospital.

All living things, including humans, take in nutrition because of the need for energy and to keep their body working. To maintain good health you need to have a good diet, consisting of quality foods in balanced proportions. What you eat should also be devoid of all unnecessary calories; that is calories which are in excess of what you require for energy.

If you start consuming more in the way of essential nutrients through your diet and add in some supplements, you will meet the needs and requirements of your body. Ideally this should be done in small, regularly spaced meals or snacks throughout the day. As a result, it will keep your body stocked up with the carbohydrates, proteins and fats it requires to function properly and you won’t feel hungry all the time. It will also improve the health of your digestive system.

Over the years, dieticians have carried out many studies into the diets of the average American and have come to the conclusion that overall, many Americans have a very poor diet nutritionally wise. In fact, only a fraction of the population have a sufficiently correct dieting program. The staggering majority are deficient in some way or other. The implications of this for the overall health of the population is dire and the effects can be seen in things like obesity rates and other dietary related health conditions.

Common Nutrients Lacking In The Modern Diet

At a bare minimum, everybody should be aware of some fundamental statistics. The most common nutrients lacking in our modern diet are:

Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids,

Vitamin D,

Magnesium,

Calcium,

Vitamin B,

Selenium,

Zinc and some others.

Many people are also deficient in protein intake. Even if you can claim that you consume enough proteins, a protein test may in fact indicate completely the opposite. You can check your protein intake yourself very easily. Just make a note of all the proteins you consume in a week and then determine whether or not you’re eating enough. You can do this with carbohydrates and fats as well.

If you find that you are not getting enough of any particular element in your diet then you must make a point of consuming more foods that contain whatever nutrients you’re lacking. The internet is full of information and advice about which foods are rich in what nutrients. Make it a priority to do some research – your health will thank you for it.

You may of course choose to make up any shortfalls by taking vitamin and mineral supplements. However, be aware that fruits and vegetables in particular contain many thousands of vitally important nutritional compounds that science has not yet been able to replicate. At most, all these manufactured supplements can do is provide a mere fraction of the nutrients a balanced, healthy diet can provide.